Republican leaders are punishing some of the partys most conservative members. And they wont go down without a yelp.

Everybody knew that Tim Huelskamp would make trouble in Washington. That was sort of the point of Tim Huelskamp. In 2009, when a safe Republican seat in western Kansas opened up, State Sen. Huelskamp established himself as the mad-as-hell candidate. He told conservative bloggers of his fight to defund Planned Parenthood, ban gay marriage, and keep Kathleen Sebelius out of the Obama cabinet. In one TV ad, as the mellow-looking Huelskamp climbed into a tractor, voters were told that he “went against his party leaders, and was kicked off his committee, for bucking the establishment and fighting wasteful spending.” He won easy.

History repeats. On Tuesday, the re-elected Huelskamp walked into a luncheon at the Heritage Foundation and told conservative activists how he’d just been booted from the Budget and Agriculture Committees. It was a “purge,” and his crime was being exactly as conservative as he’d promised.

“We’ve heard from multiple sources that someone walked in with a list of votes and said, ‘if you didn’t [fulfill] a particular scorecard on the ‘right’ votes—which by the way, in most cases, were not the conservative positions—we’re gonna remove you from committee.” The activists quietly chewed Chick-fil-A sandwiches as Huelskamp scorched his party leaders. “It confirms, in my mind, Americans’ deepest suspicions about Washington...

--snip--

On Nov. 14, conservative Rep. Tom Price lost a secret ballot election for a leadership post. The next day, the conservative Republican Study Committee gave its chairmanship to Rep. Steve Scalise, who’d been opposed by the group’s former leaders—like Tom Price...

For a simple reason. If there is a new party, they won’t get any of the committee seats or other perks. They will be permenate back benchers who will be shunned by both sides. Very few congressmen will do that by choice. They get to used to the parties and the power.

Apparently not, actually. The House rules require that the Speaker gain a majority of votes cast -- if no one gains a majority, the position is vacant until someone can get the necessary votes. In theory, 16 GOP abstentions (or vote for other than Boner or Pelosi) would be enough to deny a majority.

17
posted on 12/06/2012 4:35:42 AM PST
by kevkrom
(If a wise man has an argument with a foolish man, the fool only rages or laughs...)

It used to be that party trumped person. The Supreme Court was the biggest issue. But with the disappointing ruling by Roberts, even that doesn’t matter now. And maybe Republicans will slow down how fast we are rolling down this hill, but that is all they are doing, slowing us down while we are still going down. Maybe it is time to accept that we need to get to the bottom very, very fast.

With that said, if the Republicans don’t hold the line on taxes, what is the point in supporting them. We sent them there to protect us against this slide and they aren’t doing it. Whether we support them or not, we are going the same way. Whether we support them or move to another party, nothing is changing.

And maybe it is time to start voting my conscience rather than the team that is most likely to win. As my son (not sure how he got so smart) commented to me after this election. As God’s people, can we vote for pro-choice candidates? Even if that candidate can help us financially... Maybe it comes down to that?

18
posted on 12/06/2012 4:41:34 AM PST
by ican'tbelieveit
(School is prison for children who have commited the crime of being born. (attr: St_Thomas_Aquinas))

Where is Bachmann and the rest of the Tea Party caucus? Why aren’t they speaking out forcefully, with one voice, against the scorched earth tactics of RINO Boehner? It’s amazing how quickly politicians drink the kool-aid once they get to Washington. If we’re lucky we can get two terms out of a House member before they start to wobble. Some don’t even survive a single term. A motivated, principled and courageous Tea Party caucus could force Boehner to change his tune. If Bachmann et al. don’t speak out to protect the four who got tossed off the committees, they’ll be next.

I have served in local government, and I can attest to the truth of your statement.

The reason is very simple, people naturally want to get along with those they work along side for a long period of time, and even the most committed person will eventually start to go along to get along.

This is why term limits are so critical.

We need a constant infusion of people with new ideas and the boldness to stand up for them into government and simultaniously need to be purging those who have been in government the longest who have consolidated power and who actively attempt to muzzle the thoughts and actions of the newly elected.

The sooner conservatives separate from the GOP the better for conservatism in America. At this point the best bet for us is to form a 10-20% presence in Congress on our own party not accountable to the GOP dolts.

I sent a strongly worded message to Boehner last night. I asked him, among other things, why is it he can be a hardass, dictatorial prick with his fellow republicans, but conciliatory and compromising with the democrats.

This is why it is important to maintain control of the house and it parliamentary rules and get the 17th amendment repealed so senators actually represent the states as originally designed. That way the president being elected by the unwashed masses is not that big a deal. Unlike now where we have a want to be dictator in power being facilitated by the senate elected by basically the same demographic.

I understand that the house votes for leader on Jan 16. If a sufficient number of conservatives just don’t vote .then the house will have no leader for a year. To be elected leader you have to have 217 votes . Pelosi wont ever get there and if we can get 20 abstentions neither does boo hoo boehner. I would rather have no leader than Boo Hoo.

I am a conservative first and a Republican second. This purge crap is an example of why I put my conservative values far ahead of any notions of party loyalty. I’m as loyal to the GOP as the GOP is to me.

46
posted on 12/06/2012 10:06:47 AM PST
by MeganC
(Our forefathers would be shooting by now.)

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